Silversea - Melbourne to Sydney Itinerary

Australia's metropolitan cultural capital is a refined, contemporary, and richly liveable city - which has a blend for every taste. The smells of freshly ground, artisan coffees fill the streets of this hip, youthful city, which is generously sprinkled with fine dining establishments, art galleries, and absorbing museums. 

With an airy outdoor lifestyle, Melbourne is a vibrant global hub of fashion, fun, and festivities. Multicultural and diverse, Victoria's capital is crisscrossed by narrow alleys and splashed with street art. It's fair to say Melbourne's bearded baristas take their coffees seriously. Settle in to sample the unique coffee culture that is an essential part of Melbourne life. Looking for something a little stronger? 

Accommodation:  Silver Moon 10 Nights

Note: Some voyages operate in reverse.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you've been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale-watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan.

These blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shoreside.

Once known as the “Steel City”, today Newcastle is one of Australia's hippest cities. It's flanked by the Pacific Ocean and six beaches on its eastern side and a harbor on its west side. 

Gentrification began when the steel mills closed in 1999. Nowadays the old wharves and warehouses form part of the lively Honeysuckle precinct, which buzzes with hotels, cafes, and restaurants.

Highlight Experiences (Please contact us for prices)

• Culinary: Historic Pub Crawl

• Culture: Newcastle Highlights

• Active: Stockton Beach Sand Dunes Quad Bike Adventure

• Culture: Newcastle Discovery Walk

• Wellness: Hunter Valley by Helicopter

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you've been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale-watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan.

These blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shoreside.

Today, you'll explore the sites of ancient Aboriginal rock art on Bigge Island and the historic Mermaid Boab Tree, which bears the name of the HMC Mermaid famously carved into it while the ship was beached there undergoing emergency repairs. 

Now measuring some 3 metres wide and National Heritage listed, the tree offers a glimpse into Australian colonial history, while an old Makassan Islamic prayer alcove can be found behind the tree. Here, you'll also explore the jaw-slackening, otherworldly sandstone coastline of York Sound with its incredible sea caves and fascinating wildlife.

Highlight Experiences (Please contact for prices

• Great Sandy Strait Walk with a Ranger

• Fraser Island Exploration with a Ranger

• Mangrove Walk with a Ranger

• Bush Tucker & Medicine Walk with a Ranger

• Great Sandy Strait Paddle

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you've been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale-watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan.

 These blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shoreside.

Located beyond the Great Barrier Reef, some 450 kilometers east of Cairns, lie the little-known Willis Island. These three small islands are perhaps some of the least visited places on Earth. That is least visited by humans, the avian and marine population is tremendous. 

The Islets are home to millions of sea birds, turtles, crabs, and eels, and are part of the Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve due to their unique ecological value. Access to land is provided only via boat under a government-issued permit and is very, very limited.
 

The cacophony of bird cries carries on day and night. Among regular inhabitants, birders will spy wedge-tailed shearwaters, sooty terns, and common and black noddies. Several species of booby also migrate through the Island and, while not common, sightings of wood sandpipers, and sacred kingfishers and red-tailed tropicbirds have been recorded.
The three islands - North Cay (the largest of the three Willis Islets), South Island (also referred to as Willis Island) and Middle Cay provide a safe nesting area for birds, turtles, and other wildlife, thus visitors are requested to remain mindful of not disturbing the ecology of the islands. South Island is home to an Australian government weather monitoring station (established in 1921) which is manned year-round by three meteorologists in six-month shifts. The weather station was all but destroyed by Cyclone Yasi in 2011. The cyclone was so strong (cyclone force 5, with winds up to 185 km an hour) that it actually altered the topography and shape of the island’s coastline.

The 74 Whitsunday Islands are something truly special. Natural artistry at its finest, a sprinkle of powdery white sand, a splash of turquoise seas, and a whole heap of glorious sunshine combine to create a revered masterpiece of scattered tropical islands. 

Shute Harbour is the perfect gateway to this alluring natural wonder, a relaxed town with dashing views of the island-pocked azure seas on its doorstep. Buffered from the bustling beach-front fun of Airlie Beach by the luscious greenery of Conway National Park, Shute Harbour is a quieter spot. It offers glorious, elevated views that will whet your appetite for the immersion in pristine island scenery that lies ahead. 

Venture off into rainforest-clad hills to find beautiful lookout points like Mount Rooper or head for Lion's Lookout, so you can absorb panoramic views of droplet-like islands rising from blotched turquoise water, and the spread of yachts cruising out to explore. Shute Harbour is the perfect jumping-off point for your own adventure amongst Australia's biggest and most beautiful island group - the Whitsundays. It's hard to conjure a better vision of tropical paradise, and these stunning, world-renowned islands are just a stone's throw away from the natural port at Shute Harbour. Kinetic sandscapes, heart-shaped coral reefs bursting with underwater life, and dazzlingly bright white beaches beckon you into a captivating, romantic, and blissful pocket of Australian perfection.

Highlight Experiences (Please contact for prices)

• Adventures with Viper

• Escape to Whitehaven Beach

• Tropical Island Hiking Adventure

• Sea-Kayaking Adventure

• Whitsunday Glass Bottom Boat

Highlight Experiences

• Reef & Islands Scenic Flight

• Sailing Lady Enid

• Yachting with a local in the Whitsundays

• Science Snorkeling on Great Barrier Reef

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you've been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale-watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan.

These blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shoreside.

Once a humble fishing village, tourism has boomed in recent years and transformed Mooloolaba into one of the most coveted of Queensland's popular holiday resorts. Located 97 km from Brisbane and set right in the heart of the Sunshine Coast, Mooloolaba is much more than an oceanfront playground. 

Certainly, surfers will find their nirvana here, with ideal spots for both the initiated and the beginner dotted along the coast, along with the famous surfing festival in March. But it is not all about waxing your board and point breaks - Mooloolaba Beach has featured as one of the world's top ten beaches for two years running and it looks set to stay that way. An early morning stroll will see you mingling with the locals, and with no beachgoers around, be sure to take your cameras for some of the most Instagrammable views you're ever likely to see. Step away from the beach and guests will find some good shopping with everything from antiques and jewelry to beach towels and sarongs for sale. Local artists set up stalls on the pretty esplanade so art lovers will be sure to take home a souvenir that is really special. Epicureans meanwhile will already no doubt looking forward to tasting some of the famous Mooloolaba prawns, caught straight off a trawler. How's that for freshness! Try the delicious local specialty either in one of the buzzing restaurants in town or straight from the Seafood Precinct and grab a spot in the shade for a picnic! If fun in the sun isn't your cup of tea, then the Mooloolaba coastline is certainly worth seeing. Hire a motorboat, or relax on a mini-cruise and enjoy the opportunity of searching, and perhaps swimming, with whales, dolphins, and turtles. Seaplanes offer another interesting way of seeing the coast with the more adventurous opting for the "doors off" experience.

Highlight Experiences (Please contact for prices)

• Home of The Crocodile Hunter

• Discover Noosa & the Sunshine Coast

• Glasshouse Mountains Rainforest Walk

• Bushtucker Culture Cruise

Private Experiences

• Mooloolaba by Private Car with Guide - Half Day

• Mooloolaba by Private Van with Guide - Half Day

Signature Experiences

• Home of The Crocodile Hunter by Private Caddie

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you've been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale-watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan.

These blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shoreside.

With its glorious harbor, lavish golden beaches, and iconic landmarks, Sydney is Australia's showpiece city. Creative and curious, discover the world-class cuisine, Indigenous culture, and irresistible beach life that make Sydney one of the world's most dynamic, exciting destinations. 

Sydney's sparkling harbor is the heart of a richly cultural city. Overlooked by the metallic curves of the masterpiece of an Opera House, and that grand arched harbor bridge. Take it all in from the water, and admire the iconic landmarks, which are set before the city's gleaming skyline backdrop. If you're feeling adventurous, take the legendary climb up the smooth curve of the bridge - nicknamed the Coathanger - to soak in the shining city's spread from a unique perspective. Spread out to tan on one of the world's most famous stretches of sand - Bondi Beach. Restaurants and bars burble away in the background, while the sun beams down, and surfers curl and leap over pure rollers. Swim in spectacular salty ocean pools, or wander the beautiful Bondi to Coogee coastal walk for more of this sun-gorged stretch of prime coastline. Leaving the thrills of Australia's largest city behind is surprisingly simple - take to the skies to be flown above skyscrapers and rippling ribbons of waves, out to majestic peaks, sheer cliffs, and iconic rock formations - like the Three Sisters of the Blue Mountains. Or, drop in on wildlife sanctuaries caring for the country's animals - from hopping kangaroos to adorably cute, cuddly koalas.

During the voyage, circumstances may make it necessary or desirable to deviate from the proposed itinerary. This can include poor weather and opportunities for making unplanned excursions. Your Expedition Leader will keep you fully informed. This tour offers a variety of activities and excursions. Your personal interests will determine which of these you wish to join. Please note that some activities and excursions will run at similar times, and it will not be possible to participate in both. Accordingly, refunds for excursions and missed landings are not available. Voyages are planned and scheduled pending final regulatory approval.